Means and method of producing stereotypes



March 8, 1938. R. D. GOULD 23 MEANS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING STEREOTYPES Filed March 2, 1936 Gum/m Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING STEREOTYPES 5 Claims.

One object of this invention is to provide indicia for use in making cast metal stereotype plates, the indicia being so constructed that they can be removed readily from the recesses of the 5 plate. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel process for rendering the indicia readily removable from the recesses of the plate. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved process for making a stereo plate.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan showing one of the indicia, Fig. 2 is a plan showing the indicia mounted on a mat, Fig. 3 is a section of the structure depicted in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a plan of the mat with the cast plate thereon, but partly broken away, and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

The indicia l, of any desired form, generally are adhesively attached at 2 to the mat 3, and the plate 4 is cast thereon. The word indicia is to be considered as a term of convenience, to be construed as covering any shape which the operator wishes to have appear on the plate.

Considerable difliculty has been encountered heretofore in removing the indicia I from the recesses of the plate 4, because the indicia are stilt, and too impervious to water or other liquid that might tend to soften them and make them readily removable, even if fashioned from cardboard or equivalent material. This I propose to remedy by making the indicia pliable or readily bendable, and eagerly absorptive of Water or other liquid that will soften them. When this is done, the indicia may be removed readily from the recesses of the plate 4. Blotting paper is the preferred material from which the indicia I are made, and the blotting paper is gummed on one side, whereby the indicia may be adhesively attached to the mat 3 or its equivalent, as easily as a postage stamp, the indicia simply being moistened on the gumme'd side and affixed to the mat. 5

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making a stereotype plate, comprising casting the plate on blotting paper indicia which are eagerly absorptive, and moistening the indicia to facilitate their removal from the recesses of the plate.

2. A step in the preparation of a stereotype plate from a metal casting containing blotting paper indicia embedded therein, which comprises softening the indicia in the recesses of the plate.

3. A step in the preparation of a stereotype plate from a metal casting containing blotting paper indicia embedded therein, which comprises wetting the indicia within the recesses of the plate. 20

4. In a device for use in the casting of a stereotype plate from metal, a mat, and indicia detachably secured to the casting surface of the mat, the indicia being formed of a material insoluble in water but eagerly absorptive of water and capable of being softened thereby, whereby the indicia can be picked out of the plate, generally in one piece, as distinguished from a re moval by solution, the opposite surface of the mat being exposed as to said material.

5. A device for use in the casting of a stereotype plate, constructed as set forth in claim 4, and wherein the indicia material is blotting paper.

ROBERT DAVID GOULD. 3; 

